It’s not a controversial statement to say Finn Azaz is one of the best players in the Championship.
The 26-year-old playmaker is crucial to the way Southampton play. One of the first names on Tonda Eckert’s teamsheet, Azaz is unplayable in the second tier when he clicks into gear.
One narrative that appears to have been created is that Azaz often fails to turn up in bigger matches.
This argument doesn’t recognise that the Irishman’s misgivings are usually in games where he is sounded out - not in ‘big’ matches. His start to the 2026/27 season proves just that.
A romping start
In Southampton’s biggest games of the season so far, Finn Azaz has more than turned up.
Against Millwall, who were top of the league at the time, Azaz shone in a five-star display, picking up a goal, an assist and winning the Saints a penalty. In midweek against Swansea, Azaz was great once again and scored in an impressive 3-1 win.
The two toughest games on paper of the league season, and Azaz had a blinder in both. In fact, Azaz’s season on the whole has been a cut above; no player in the Championship has created more chances from open play (12) than him this season.
It hasn’t just been this campaign that Finn Azaz has shown his brilliance in the big matches for Southampton. Against Arsenal and Manchester City in the FA Cup last season, he ran the show at times due to being afforded so much space.
That’s why, against Middlesbrough in the play-off semi-finals, he struggled while being sounded out. In matches where teams give Azaz room to operate, he’ll kill defences.
Just Stop Azaz
Southampton would be in the automatic promotion spots after six games had they not been deducted four points before the season even began.
It’s conducive to Azaz’s performances that the Saints are ticking. Flynn Downes and James Ward-Prowse played a combined 12 passes through to the Irishman against Swansea, allowing him to operate with some of the best attackers in the league ahead of him.
It’s a very fun team that Tonda Eckert has coached Southampton into, and Azaz is the performer who keeps things tip-top. With two goals and two assists in six matches, Azaz is on course for a projected 30-goal involvement campaign.
They’ll need their top performer to keep up his efforts, as the Saints chase down the pack after starting four points behind.
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